U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments on Wednesday regarding President Trump's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. During the hearing, Judge Kelly indicated skepticism toward the administration's actions, particularly noting that due process was not followed in revoking the news organizations' press credentials. He referenced prior federal court rulings, specifically Karem v. Trump (2022) and Sherrill v. Knight (1977), which establish that journalists are entitled to due process before their White House press passes can be revoked.
The news organizations—CNN, MS NOW, and Politico—filed a lawsuit on Monday, seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately reinstate their access to the White House complex. They argued that the ban violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and a free press, as well as their Fifth Amendment rights to due process. The judge acknowledged that the White House did not appear to have provided the outlets with a meaningful opportunity to contest the revocation of their access.
The Justice Department, representing the White House, stated in a filing that letters were sent to the three outlets claiming they had "exhibited behavior in violation of the standards of professionalism and decorum." However, the judge did not issue an immediate ruling, stating he would consider the arguments and provide an answer as soon as possible. The ban had broader implications, as CNN's removal from the White House television pool led other networks (CBS News, ABC News, NBC News, and Fox News) to suspend pool coverage in solidarity, affecting reporting on events such as Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington, D.C.
